Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-02
Consumption and distribution 800. 10
THE WEEK IN GOTHAM SOCIETY
Revelation of a Transformation in
the Social Fabric.

Revelation of Transformation in
the Social Fabric.
NEW YORK, Jan. with the coming
ofthe new year the fashionable season
will reach it's apogee. Hitherto it has
been dull beyond precedent. No divorce,
but that of Mrs. Lawrence Hopkins, has
ruffled it. No Opponents are reported
from Cannes or Pau. Everything has
been stupidity regular, splendidly null.
But the balls of the past week have re-
veaied transformation in the social
fabric. Till now Mrs. William Astor
and Mrs. August Belmont have been the
recognized leaders offashion. They would
appear atthe dances with covy OF pretty
girls in their train; would sit on the dais
Of She dowagers and sedately watch their
charges; would receive the condolences of
young lovers, would arrange excellent
matches, and would never leave the ball
room while dance remained on the card.
And to-day Mrs. Belmont, though l see
her everywhere, appears TO have resigned
her command. Mrs. Aston, being afflicted
with painful malady, Is seen no more.
Everybody is anxious to know who Will
take their place. We have so many ''sets"
in New York that each claims the honor
of nominating the new queen of the mode.
luz AbloOJ SOb 10 Juob nOW III SICdb
favor, and it's most dashing leaders are
Mrs. Prescott Lawrence, who is now at
Cannes; Mrs, s. S. Sands, Jr., nee Harri-
man; Mrs. j. f. q Lanier, nee Bishop;
Mrs. James Low Hartman, Mrs. James
Waterbury, Mrs. Elliott Roosevelt and
Mrs. August Belmont, Jr. l give this
catalogue of names because any OF these
ladies may suddenly spring into notoriety
and become known all over the country,
like Mrs .Iannpa Rr0Wn Potter
The literary set puts In claims to con-
sideration. The Nineteenth Century Club,
which Is as near to the French Salon as
ANYTHING in America, has given a local
habitation to this set. Its recognized
leader is Mrs. Burton n. Harrison, who
had written pretty fairy stories and
tractates on decorative art before she
gained reputation with her play Of "a
Russian Honeymoon"
The set of amateur actors ana actresses
grows every day The secession OF Mrs.
Potter has lefC it leaderless. Yet many
pretty women and bright young ladies
| aspire to its suzerainty. Mrs. Oliver
Sumner Teall, who married the partner of
the Marquis de Mores, is highly reputed
in the drawing rooms. Mrs. Walter Scott
Andrews. Hungarian, is inimitable as
grande eoquette-in sucb parts as
Madelaine BrOhan used to play at the
Theatre Francois. Miss Elsie de Wolfe
! is the pet OF the young men, and it is quite
possible that she may carry off the coveted
hopOrs.
But, after all, it is most likely that fash
ion Will seek 1t leader among the purely
fashionable women, and | dare say it will
not be long before | am able to announce
that either Mrs. Coleman Drayton, who is
a daughter of Mrs. Astor, or Mrs. Walker
Breeze Smith, or Mrs. Arthur Welman,
has succeeded to the vacant throne.
The matter was holly discussed at Tux
edo Park, This is carnival week at
Tuxedo-that picturesque club house
which Mr.. Pierre LorIllard has set up in
the Ramapo Valley and spent million in
equipping. A merry party went thither
Yesterday afternoon to open the ball. We
were met at the station by sleigns; huge
bontires Of tree trunks bloZed all along
the road, and we quickly sped round the
lake, where iceboats were skimming, and
the Misses Hewitt, daughters of our
next Mayor, were skating amid q crowd
of admirers. Dinner was served on the
piaZzas, which were covered with glass
like hothouses, and from which, In de-
lightful warmth, one could look down,
through fairy-like vistas, upon the
skaters. Miss de Wolfe. a dream in pink,
and Mr.. Edward Fales Coward played a
little drama by Sir Charles Young, author
of Jim the Penman," and afterward a
supper was given to the players, Mr..
Pierre Lorillard, Mr.. Burnett Baldwin,
MIR. Frank Rodney ana Mr.. Frank Leslie
Baker taking part in it.
Tuxedo, then, was the centre OF all the
gossip. Among the guests was Mr. James
Brown Potter. | need not say who Mr..
James Brown Potter is. He is lie mari de
sa femme. But on this occasion, strange
to say, Mr.. Potter vas much more import
ant than his wife. He was surrounded
by people who came to congratulate him.
On what? On mis- accession to a fortune.
You are aware that his wife's chief
temptation to 20 on the stage arose from
the lack Of means. | have often heard
her complain, ''Ob, that we had money !"
Ada Kehan, the actress, spoke to her at
Tuxedo last summer about the fortunes
occasionally made on the stage. "You
can't think" replied Mrs. Potter, show |
cbafe under this poverty" And the
thought of Mrs. Langtry making a for
tune melted her to learn the business of
the theatre. Der people, the Urquharts,
who are simple Southern people. said,
"Cora, you must go on the stage; you
must show your talent; you must get
rIch.'
And it was in the hope of getting rich
that she went to study in,Paris.
Well, while his wife was forming day
dreams her husband was specializing. II
Odu lOIS an inca tnHb tHeTe was wealth. IN
coffee. His friends used TO make fun of
him. but be persevered. And at last, a
fortnight ago, there was an extraordinary
rise in coffee. Mr.. Potter made Sic. 900
on tie iEst day and $50, 900 on the second.
lie vas suddenly rich.
Aud the chances are that his wife will
not take TO the stage alter all.
'~t PAUL NJ. POTTER.
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